SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:20
Y muchos de los Judíos leyeron este título, porque el lugar donde estaba Jess colgado del madero era cerca de la ciudad; y era escrito en hebreo, en griego, y en latín.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 19:20
Verse 20. Hebrew,-Greek,-Latin.] See on Luke xxiii. 38. On Matt. xxvii. 37, I have given this title in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as mentioned by this evangelist. The reader, however, will not be displeased to find the same title repeated here in a character which was written in the fourth century, and is probably nearly resembling that used in the earliest ages of Christianity. The Greek and Latin character, which is inserted here, is an exact fac-simile of that in the Codex Bezae, cut and cast at the expense of the University of Cambridge, for Dr. Kipling's edition of that most venerable MS. which contains the Greek text of the four evangelists and Acts; and the Latin text of the same, as it existed before the time of St. Jerome. Having examined the MS. myself, I can say that these types are a very faithful representation of the original.
In Hebrew, ebraisti.
aydwhyd aklm ayrxn [wsy In Greek, ellhnisti.
ihsouv o nazwreov o basileuv twn ioudaiwn In Latin, rwmaisti.
iehsus nazarenus rex iudaeorum
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. This title then read many of the Jews , etc.] Who were in great numbers, at the place of execution, rejoicing at his crucifixion, and insulting him as he hung on the cross: for the place where Jesus was crucified, was nigh unto the city ; Golgotha, the place of Christs crucifixion, was not more than two furlongs, or a quarter of a mile from the city of Jerusalem: so that multitudes were continually going from thence to see this sight; the city also being then very full of people, by reason of the feast of the passover; to which may be added, that the cross stood by the wayside, where persons were continually passing to and fro, as appears from ( Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:29) and where it was usual to erect crosses to make public examples or malefactors, and to deter others from committing the like crimes: so Alexander, the emperor, ordered an eunuch to be crucified by the wayside, in which his servants used commonly to go to his suburb or country house: Cicero says the Mamertines, according to their own usage and custom, crucified behind the city, in the Pompeian way; and Quinctilian observes f723 , as often as we crucify criminals, the most noted ways are chosen, where most may behold, and most may be moved with fear: and now Christ being crucified by a public road side, the inscription on the cross was doubtless read by more than otherwise it would: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin ; that it might be read by all, Jews, Greeks, and Romans; and to show that he is the Saviour of some of all nations; and that he is King over all. These words were written in Hebrew letters in the Syriac dialect, which was used by the Jews, and is called the Hebrew language, ( John 19:13,17) and in which it is most likely Pilate should write these words, or order them to be written; and which, according to the Syriac version we now have, were thus put, aydwhyd aklm ayrxn [wy ; in Greek the words stood as in the original text, thus, Ihsouv o Nazwraiov o basileuv twn Ioudaiwn : and in the Latin tongue, as may be supposed, after this manner, Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum. These three languages may be very well thought to be understood by Pilate; at least so much of them as to qualify him to write such an inscription as this. The Latin tongue was his mother tongue, which he must be supposed well to understand; and the Greek tongue was very much used by the Romans, since their conquest of the Grecian monarchy; and the emperors edicts were generally published in Greek, which it was therefore necessary for Pilate to understand; and as he was a governor of Judea, and had been so for some time, he must have acquired some knowledge of the Hebrew language; and these being the principal languages in the world, he chose to write this title in them, that persons coming from all quarters might be able to read it, and understand it in some one of them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-30 - Here are some remarkable circumstances of Jesus' death, more full related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to secret power of God upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord' character and authority might continue. Many things done by the Roma soldiers were fulfilments of the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be fulfilled. Christ tenderly provided for his mother at his death. Sometimes, when God removes one comfort from us, he raises up another for us, where we looked not for it. Christ' example teaches all men to honour their parents in life and death; to provide for their wants, and to promote their comfort by every means in their power. Especially observe the dying word wherewith Jesus breathe out his soul. It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Fathe concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished; an end is made of transgressio by bringing in an everlasting righteousness. His sufferings were no finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body. It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvation is now completed His life was not taken from him by force, but freely given up.
Greek Textus Receptus
τουτον 5126 D-ASM ουν 3767 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM τιτλον 5102 N-ASM πολλοι 4183 A-NPM ανεγνωσαν 314 5627 V-2AAI-3P των 3588 T-GPM ιουδαιων 2453 A-GPM οτι 3754 CONJ εγγυς 1451 ADV ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S της 3588 T-GSF πολεως 4172 N-GSF ο 3588 T-NSM τοπος 5117 N-NSM οπου 3699 ADV εσταυρωθη 4717 5681 V-API-3S ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S γεγραμμενον 1125 5772 V-RPP-NSN εβραιστι 1447 ADV ελληνιστι 1676 ADV ρωμαιστι 4515 ADV
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Hebrew, Greek, Latin. Some editors vary the order. Rev., Latin, Greek. Such inscriptions in different languages were not uncommon. Julius Capitolinus, a biographer (A. D. 320), in his life of the third Gordian, says that the soldiers erected his tomb on the Persian borders, and added an epitaph (titulum) in Latin, Persian, Hebrew, and Egyptian characters, in order that it might be read by all. Hebrew was the rational dialect, Latin the official, and Greek the common dialect. As the national Hebrew, King of the Jews was translated into Latin and Greek, so the inscription was prophetic that Christ should pass into civil administration and common speech: that the Hebrew Messiah should become equally the deliverer of Greek and Roman: that as Christ was the real center of the religious civilization of Judaism, so He should become the real center of the world's intellectual movement as represented by Greece, and of its legal and material civilization as represented by Rome. The three civilizations which had prepared the way for Christ thus concentrated at His cross. The cross is the real center of the world's history.21 The chief priests of the Jews. A unique expression, possibly by way of contrast with the King of the Jews.
